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7 Surefire Signs That Moisture is Weighing Your Home Down
If your home heaves with stale odours, water stains and mould, you may need a humidity fix, pronto
Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
4 June 2019
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist. www.mangomonk.com
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist.... More
Are you perpetually battling the sweats? Do your breads go mouldy, and biscuits and snacks go soggy soon after you take them out of their packaging? Do your walls emanate a musty, mildewy odour? If you answered any of those questions in the affirmative, you might have a case of high humidity in your home. And these problems are just the tip of the iceberg. High humidity can cause several other issues for you and your home – including allergies, poor air quality and decaying furniture – and recognising them early can help you set things on the right track. Here are seven signs that your home could do with some dehumidification.
1. There’s a stale odour
Mould is usually spurred by factors like poor ventilation, substandard tile installations, inadequate sealing, and seepage. A musty odour is usually one of its first tip-offs. A highly humid home can serve as a breeding ground for mould spores, which, if inhaled, are known to give rise to health problems such as watery eyes, wheezing, a blocked nose, and other respiratory issues. If you notice mould, have it removed at the earliest and bring in some dehumidification measures (recommended later) to absorb the surplus moisture in the air. As a practice, turn on the exhaust in your bathroom every time you bathe, and make an effort to keep your ventilation system clean.
Find a professional to advise you on getting rid of humidity in the home
Mould is usually spurred by factors like poor ventilation, substandard tile installations, inadequate sealing, and seepage. A musty odour is usually one of its first tip-offs. A highly humid home can serve as a breeding ground for mould spores, which, if inhaled, are known to give rise to health problems such as watery eyes, wheezing, a blocked nose, and other respiratory issues. If you notice mould, have it removed at the earliest and bring in some dehumidification measures (recommended later) to absorb the surplus moisture in the air. As a practice, turn on the exhaust in your bathroom every time you bathe, and make an effort to keep your ventilation system clean.
Find a professional to advise you on getting rid of humidity in the home
2. Your wooden furniture has started to rot
There’s nothing worse than seeing your grandfather’s prized rocking chair or an heirloom coffee table succumbing to humidity. Rotting wood is a classic sign of elevated moisture levels. Shortlist areas around your home most susceptible to moisture damage; the spots around your sinks and window sills are a good place to start. Check the integrity of wood by lightly pressing it. If it’s soft, you know it has weakened from moisture damage. Consider replacing affected wood and protecting it in the long term by keeping it out of direct sunlight and away from heating vents. Applying a fresh coat of lacquer to your wood every two years can also preserve it for longer.
See how to prevent damp in your wardrobes
There’s nothing worse than seeing your grandfather’s prized rocking chair or an heirloom coffee table succumbing to humidity. Rotting wood is a classic sign of elevated moisture levels. Shortlist areas around your home most susceptible to moisture damage; the spots around your sinks and window sills are a good place to start. Check the integrity of wood by lightly pressing it. If it’s soft, you know it has weakened from moisture damage. Consider replacing affected wood and protecting it in the long term by keeping it out of direct sunlight and away from heating vents. Applying a fresh coat of lacquer to your wood every two years can also preserve it for longer.
See how to prevent damp in your wardrobes
3. You’re suffering excessive allergies
Are you constantly sneezing, wheezing or coughing? If you’ve ruled out a viral infection, you could be suffering from a case of allergies caused by excessive bacteria and mould as a result of humidity. Dehumidification can help cut down airborne toxins and prevent mould spores from spreading.
Are you constantly sneezing, wheezing or coughing? If you’ve ruled out a viral infection, you could be suffering from a case of allergies caused by excessive bacteria and mould as a result of humidity. Dehumidification can help cut down airborne toxins and prevent mould spores from spreading.
4. You’re always uncomfortable
Humidity is a guaranteed formula for sticky and sweaty discomfort. Usually when you sweat, it dries off on your skin, helping you feel cooler. With high humidity, that’s not the case. In humid conditions, sweat continues to linger on your skin, causing a damp, sticky feeling. If your home has you perennially feeling that way, it’s a sign your space could do with a dehumidification drive.
Humidity is a guaranteed formula for sticky and sweaty discomfort. Usually when you sweat, it dries off on your skin, helping you feel cooler. With high humidity, that’s not the case. In humid conditions, sweat continues to linger on your skin, causing a damp, sticky feeling. If your home has you perennially feeling that way, it’s a sign your space could do with a dehumidification drive.
5. Your windows have condensation
Moisture on the inside of your windows, especially in the winters, is an indication that your room has elevated moisture levels. Left unchecked, condensation can weaken the foundations of your home, with its water dissolving and breaking down cement. Dehumidification can be the key to eliminating excess moisture and maintaining a healthy humidity level.
Moisture on the inside of your windows, especially in the winters, is an indication that your room has elevated moisture levels. Left unchecked, condensation can weaken the foundations of your home, with its water dissolving and breaking down cement. Dehumidification can be the key to eliminating excess moisture and maintaining a healthy humidity level.
6. Your walls have water stains
Water stains on the walls or ceiling that aren’t attributed to seepage are a likely outcome of humidity. These stains usually manifest in the winter months as a product of condensation, when interior walls are warmer than the temperature outdoors. An unresolved humidity problem can snowball into other issues such as peeling paint or wallpaper, or a fractured drywall.
Water stains on the walls or ceiling that aren’t attributed to seepage are a likely outcome of humidity. These stains usually manifest in the winter months as a product of condensation, when interior walls are warmer than the temperature outdoors. An unresolved humidity problem can snowball into other issues such as peeling paint or wallpaper, or a fractured drywall.
7. Your AC makes the air sticky and stuffy
A mega-tonne AC may seem like a great investment if you’re planning a home extension, or are worried about a smaller capacity AC underperforming. And while you’d expect it to work like a dehumidifier, removing excess moisture from the air, it can actually have the opposite effect, increasing humidity levels in your home. Why? Well, considering an oversized AC runs for less time yet cooling the air, it also spends less time dehumidifying, resulting in air that is cool, but also heavy and muggy. Linking a dehumidifier to your AC unit can be a less expensive alternative than replacing your AC altogether; certainly a solution worth considering if you’re constantly battling humidity.
A mega-tonne AC may seem like a great investment if you’re planning a home extension, or are worried about a smaller capacity AC underperforming. And while you’d expect it to work like a dehumidifier, removing excess moisture from the air, it can actually have the opposite effect, increasing humidity levels in your home. Why? Well, considering an oversized AC runs for less time yet cooling the air, it also spends less time dehumidifying, resulting in air that is cool, but also heavy and muggy. Linking a dehumidifier to your AC unit can be a less expensive alternative than replacing your AC altogether; certainly a solution worth considering if you’re constantly battling humidity.
Measures to minimise humidity
Switch on your exhaust fans
Your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans can channel out excess humidity and prevent the development of mould and bacteria (these are highly likely when humidity levels exceed 55 per cent). Make a habit of turning on your exhaust fans when you’re cooking or showering, to minimise moisture levels.
Stop water from leaking out of the shower area
Switch on your exhaust fans
Your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans can channel out excess humidity and prevent the development of mould and bacteria (these are highly likely when humidity levels exceed 55 per cent). Make a habit of turning on your exhaust fans when you’re cooking or showering, to minimise moisture levels.
Stop water from leaking out of the shower area
Invest in a dehumidifier
If you’ve made up your mind to invest in a dehumidifier, consider whether your requirement is for a single room or for your whole house. A portable room dehumidifier may be an ideal solution for the former, while a whole-house dehumidifier may be better suited to the latter. It’s important to remember there are several factors that impact the effectiveness of a dehumidifier, including indoor air temperature, relative humidity, air circulation (the less, the better) and room size.
If you’ve made up your mind to invest in a dehumidifier, consider whether your requirement is for a single room or for your whole house. A portable room dehumidifier may be an ideal solution for the former, while a whole-house dehumidifier may be better suited to the latter. It’s important to remember there are several factors that impact the effectiveness of a dehumidifier, including indoor air temperature, relative humidity, air circulation (the less, the better) and room size.
Grow some greens
Give your humidity levels an all-natural cure with some gorgeous plants. When paired with other humidity-control measures, plants can go a long way in regulating air moisture. Peace lilies, reed palms, English ivy and Boston ferns are some options you can consider to absorb excess humidity (and give your home a fresh oxygen boost).
Armed with extraordinary air-purifying qualities, these plants take to the Indian climate like fish to water
Give your humidity levels an all-natural cure with some gorgeous plants. When paired with other humidity-control measures, plants can go a long way in regulating air moisture. Peace lilies, reed palms, English ivy and Boston ferns are some options you can consider to absorb excess humidity (and give your home a fresh oxygen boost).
Armed with extraordinary air-purifying qualities, these plants take to the Indian climate like fish to water
Avoid drying clothes indoors
If you’ve got clothes lines along the ceiling (or any other surface) inside your home, it’s time to rethink your drying decisions. Wet clothes release considerable moisture as they dry; a problem often compounded by poor ventilation. Consider giving your clothes a once-over with a hair dryer before putting them to dry. Better still, if you have the space, move your clothes lines outdoors.
If you’ve got clothes lines along the ceiling (or any other surface) inside your home, it’s time to rethink your drying decisions. Wet clothes release considerable moisture as they dry; a problem often compounded by poor ventilation. Consider giving your clothes a once-over with a hair dryer before putting them to dry. Better still, if you have the space, move your clothes lines outdoors.
Clean your AC filters
Your AC serves to minimise moisture by filtering incoming air. However, AC filters tend to clog over time, impeding air flow and hampering humidity control. Be regular with filter cleaning; this will not only maintain your cooling mechanism, but also provide optimum humidity control.
Read more:
How to Control Dampness & Mould in the House
Fighting Pollution: How to Keep Your Indoor Air Clean
Tell us:
Do you have any tricks to control humidity inside your home? Tell us in Comments below.
Your AC serves to minimise moisture by filtering incoming air. However, AC filters tend to clog over time, impeding air flow and hampering humidity control. Be regular with filter cleaning; this will not only maintain your cooling mechanism, but also provide optimum humidity control.
Read more:
How to Control Dampness & Mould in the House
Fighting Pollution: How to Keep Your Indoor Air Clean
Tell us:
Do you have any tricks to control humidity inside your home? Tell us in Comments below.
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